Vehicle signal



Feb. 22, 1938. I A. T. SEREDA 2,109,184.

VEHICLE SIGNAL Filed Jan. 4, 1937 2 shgetssheet 4 7 6 fi lais T l r ea/Affnrneys Inventor Feb. 22, 1938. A T REDA 4 2,109,184

VEHICLE S IGNAL Fiied Jan. 4, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor "AttorneysUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VEHICLE SIGNAL Alois T. Screda, Chicago,Ill.

Application January 4, 1937, Serial No. 119,013

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to vehicle signals and has for itsprincipal object to provide a signaling element embodying visiblesignaling means.

and audible A further object is to provide switch means for controllingthe visible and audible signaling element selectively operable by theoperator to energize the visible signaling element alone or tosimultaneouslyenergize both the audible and visible signaling elements.

A still further object is to provide a signal I housing embodying abracket for mounting upon a suitable part of a vehicle and whichincludesthe visible and audible signaling elements mounted in the housing as aunitary structure.

A still further object is to provide an apparatus of this character ofsimple and practical construction, neat and attractive in appearance,relatively inexpensive to manufacture and install in operation,efficient and reliable in performance and otherwise Well adapted for thepurpose for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein likenumerals parts throughout and in which:-

refer to like Figure l is a vertical longitudinal sectional {viewthrough the signaling housing and supporting bracket therefor.

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the switch. Figure 3 illustratesthe wiring diagram. Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view ofan automobile steering wheel showing the to a suitable part of anautomobile.

The front end of the portion 6 of the housing is recessed inwardly asshown at! to form a seat for the edge of a glass cover ID ofsubstantially semispherical construction and secured in position by anannular band ll connecting the abutting edges of the housing section 6and cover I!) as will be apparent from an inspection of Figure l of thedrawings.

Supported within the housing section 6 is a longitudinally extendingbracket l2 having a lamp socket l3 secured to its forward end withinwhich is mounted a signaling lamp H, said bracket also forming a supportfor an electromagnet l5 having a clapper or striker I6 operativelyassociated therewith and positioned in striking engagement with theinner surface of a conical bell ll having its forward open end insertedinwardly of the rear end of the housing section 6 and its opposite endconverging into substantial conical formation and secured to the rearend of the bracket I2 by a screw I8. The sides of the bell H are spacedslightly from the rear end of the housing 5, as will be observed from aninspection of Figure 1 of the drawings, to prevent interference with theproduction of the desired ringing tone upon the striking of the bell bythe clapper I6. I

The upper portion of the housing section 6 is formed with a verticaloffset portion is within which is formed a window opening having a glass20 positioned therein and secured therein by means of a bracket 2i. Thewindow 20 constitutes a tell-tale means by which the operator is able todetermine whether or not the lamp I4 is functioning and also acts as asignal which may be observed from the rear of the vehicle.

An insulated switch housing 22 is bolted as at 23 to a bracket 24 havinga clamp 25 for securing to the steering post 26 of the vehicle. Theswitch housing 22 is provided with a threaded cap 21 within which ispositioned a push button I 28. Within the switch housing 22 ispositioned a plurality of switch elements 29, 30 and 3|. Each of theseswitch elements is formed of spring strips bent, into a U-shapeformation and include a short arm 32 and a long arm 33. The switchmembers are arranged with their short arms secured to the bottom of theswitch housing 22 by bolts 34, which constitute terminals and with thelong arms 33 arranged i-noverlying relation with respect to each other,as will be clearly apparent from an inspection of Figure 2 of thedrawings. The switch member 3| is positioned under the members 29 and 30and is connected to the electromagnet l5 by a wire 36. The switchelement 30 is positioned between the switch elements 29 and 3| and isconnected to a battery or other source of current 31 by means of a wire38 and the switch element 29 which has its long arm positioned uppermostis connected to the lamp M by means of a wire 39.

The switch elements 29, 30 and 3i are normally spaced apart, as clearlyillustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings and accordingly upon theinitial application of pressure to the push button 28 the switch arms oftheelement 29 and 30 will first be brought into contact to close thecircuit from the battery to the lamp to energize the latter and upon acontinuation of the pressure upon the push button 28 the switch member3| will be brought into contact to close the circuit leading to theelectro-magnet I 5 for energizing the same and ringing the bell I I. Itwill be understood that the circuit wires leading from the battery tothe lamp and electro-magnet are fed through the conduit 1 into thehousing 5.

It is believed the details of construction and operation of theinvention will be readily understood from the foregoing without furtherdetail explanation thereof.

Having thus described the invention what I claim is:-

A signal device comprising a housing open at its ends, a lens mounted onone end of said housing, a bracket secured in said housing and extendingthrough and beyond the opposite open end thereof, an electric lampcarried by said bracket, a bell secured at one end on said extendedportion of the bracket and having an open end arranged in and spacedfrom the adjacent open end of the housing, a striker complementary tosaid bell and arranged in the housing, and electro-mechanical means inthe housing and on said bracket for actuating the striker.

ALOIS T. SEREDA.

